Method of lacing shoe uppers



Oct. 3, 1939. J FQSSA METHOD OF LACING SHOE UPP-ERS Original Filed May11, 1935 ll Sheets-Sheet l a a iattornegs Oct. 3, 1939. J. FOSSA METHODOF LACING SHOE UPPERS Original Filed May 11, 1935 11 Sheets-Sheet 2attorney 3 Oct. 3, 1939. J. FOSSA METHOD OF LACING SHOE UPPERS llSheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed May 11, 1935 Zinnentor (It ornegj Oct. 3,1939. J. FOSSA METHOD OF LACING SHOE UPPERS Original Filed May ll, 1935ll Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 3, 1939.- J. F5555 2,115,055

METHOD OF moms snofl .UPPERS Original Filed May 11, 1/935 11Sheets-Sheet 5 (Ittorneg 5 J. FOSSA 5, 55

METHOD OF LACING SHOE UPPERS Original Filed May 11, 1935 ll Sheets-Sheet6 v? smmiwr 7 W ttorneg 4i Oct. 3, 1939.

J. FOSSA 2,175,055

METHOD OF LACING. SHOE UPPERS Original Filed May 11, 1935 11Sheets-Sheet 7 3nventor z "i? M 7 V I 7 (ittorzeg Oct. 3, 1939. J. FOSSAMETHOD OF LACING SHOE UPPERS Original Filed May 11, 1935 ll Sheets-Sheet8 M Enventor (Itt neg) Oct. 3, 1939. FOSSA 2,175,055

METHOD OF LACING SHOE UPPERS Original Filed May ll, 1935 11 Sheets-Sheet9 2 Snventor A I (Ittornegj Oct. 3, 1939. J oss I 2,175,055

METHOD OF LACING SHOE UPPERS Original Filed May 11, 1935 ll Sheets-Sheet1 0 Zhwentor 3 I I (Ittorn 3 I Get. 3, 1939. J. FOSSA 2,175,055

METHOD OF LACING SHOE UPPERS Original Filed May 11, 1935 ll Sheets-Sheetll Patented Oct. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF LACINGSHOE UPPERS Joseph Fossa, Salem, Mass, assignor to United Shoe MachineryCorporation, Paterson, N. .L, a corporation of New Jersey 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a method of lacing shoe uppers toprepare them for the lasting operation, and is herein disclosed inconnec- M tionwith the shoe upper lacing machine described and claimedin inventors pending application Serial No. 21,011, filed May 11, 1935of which the present application is a division; said application hasresulted in Patent No. 2,106,320, issued January 25, 1938.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a method of formingindividual cord lacings in the eyelet holes of a shoe upper in a new andimproved manner, whereby individual cord lacings may be formedaccurately and with certainty having a length as short or as long asdesired and capable of withstanding any strains to which the upper maybe subjected in being applied to the last.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a method of formingindividual cord lacings which, while extending across the edges of theshoe upper, will not chafe or mark the surface of the upper duringlasting or other shoe making operations.

With the above objects in view, the present invention consists in thenovel operations performed in lacing a shoe upper hereinafter describedand claimed. The steps constituting the method of the present inventionare such that they can advantageously be performed automatically by asuitably designed machine such, for instance, as that disclosed inapplicant's pending application above referred to. In this machine theseveral parts are constructed and arranged so that during the normaloperation of the machine in lacing a shoe upper the cords from which thelacing is formed are manipulated in accordance with the method of thepresent invention. A description of the principal parts 40 of thismachine and their mode of operation inlacing a shoe upper will,therefore, be sufficient to enable the method of the present inventionto be clearly understood.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate so much of themachine of said pending application as is necessary for an understandingof the present invention, Figure 1 is a view in left side elevation ofthe machine; Fig- 50 ure 2 is a perspective view of a shoe upper lacedaccording to the present invention; Figure 3 is a view illustrating, onan enlarged scale, an indi vidual lacing of the shoe shown in Figure 2;Figure 4 is a view in front elevation of the machine 55 shown in Figure1; Figure 5 is a view, in section,

of an upper part of the machine taken along the line 5--5 of Figure 4,with the parts of the machine in positions assumed as the machine isabout to start into operation; Figure 6 is a sectional view, taken onsubstantially the same line 5 as that of Figure 5, indicating thepositions of parts after the first reciprocation of the needles; Figure7 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, illustrating one of theloopers in its lowermost position just after starting the machine;Figure 0 8 is a similar view, taken just after the looper has beenraised, to receive the needle loop during the first needlereciprocation; Figure 9 is a sectional view of the looper shown inFigure 7, taken along the line 9-9; Figure 10 is a sectional view of thelooper shown in Figure 8, taken along the line Ill-J0; Figure 11 is aview similar to that shown in Figure 10, illustrating a needle loopspread by the looper; Figure 12 is a detail view of the looper lookingin the direction of the arrow l2 in Figure 8; Figures 13 to 16inclusive, are similar detail views illustrating parts of the loopers insuccessive positions. Figures 17 to inelusive are detail viewsillustrating successive positions of certain of the lacing devices;Figure 36 is a sectional view, taken along the line 36-46 of Figure 35;Figure 37 is a detail view illustrating the positions of the needle andlooper subsequent to those shown in Figure 35; Figure 38 is a sectionalview, taken along the line 38-38 of Figure 37; Figure 39 is a detailview of the needle and looper illustrating positions subsequent to thoseshown in Figure 3'7; Figure 40 is a sectional view, taken along the line40-40 of Figure 39; Figure 41 is a detail view of the needle and looperin positions following those shown in Figure 39; Figure 42 is a detailview of the needle and looper in final operating positions of themachine just before coming to rest; and Figure 43 is a detail View ofthe needle and looper with the machine at rest.

The lacing machine illustrated in the drawings is arranged with a row ofparallel eye-pointed needles 2 on which, while stationary, oppositely 45disposed aligned eyelets in the quarter portions of a folded upper to belaced are impaled by the operator. When the machine is started, theupper is gripped in its folded condition and held in the machine untilthe lacing is completed. Thereafter, the upper drops from the machine,and the machine is brought to rest. An upper completely laced inaccordance with the present invention is shown in Figure 2 of thedrawings, and comprises a plurality of separately tied the'loopscrossing. the edges.

lengths of cord, each having the proper amount of slack to make theupper, indicated at 4, conform in a predetermined manner with the last(not shown) the upper, when opened out and applied to the last, havingthe portions adjacent the lacing slit lying flat against the last.Preferably, the amount of slack in each individual lacing is made toprogressively increase from the first eyelet 6 in the toe of the upperto the last eyelet 8 at the angle opening.

The nature of each indvidual lacing is more clearly illustrated inFigure 3. A length of cord is formed into a series of inter-connectedloops,

alternate ones H] of which'arepassed throughain opposite sides of the.

pair of alined eyelets upper i and. the others, l2, of across the edgesof 7 M of each loop, after being passed" through the eyelets or acrossthe upper edges, is drawn through the bight of the previously formedloop to lock the loop in place and the final loop is severed along thebight portion, The severed end remaining in the machine is thenwithdrawn from the nextj'tothe last bightjleavi'ng the free end of the"cord forming'the lacing'extending through said neXt to last bight to"lock the corresponding loop in place.

In a'lacing formed as shown, two complete loops forming fourstrandsextending across the edges have been found 'sufli'cient toprevent chafing or marring of the upper. To secure the bights of theloops together, three loops passing through the eyelets with the finalloop severed and the end withdrawn, are effective to fasten The seriesof interlocking chain'loops, of which the, lacing is comprised, whentightened against one "another, form a lacing ring which isself-sustaining independently of any support aflorded by the contactingparts of the upper or'spacing member and is Well adapted to permit theeyeleted edges of the upper to be moved relatively thereon from aparallel to a fully spread position with"- out danger that the lacingmay become untied or loosened in such a way. as to. interfere with theproper fitting and stretching of. theupper on'thelast.

The machine hereinafter described is operated by a main' driven shaft [6rotating in the direction of the arrow, Figure 1, in bearings of themachine. 'To rotate the shaft 16, the'right end of the shaft, viewingthe machine from the front (Fig. 4) carries a driving and'stoppingmechanism for connecting and disconnecting a main driving pulley l8loose on theshaft. The pulley i8 is connected with the shaft bydepressing a treadle connected rod 20 (Fig. 4) which controls thedriving and stopping mechanism. When the rod is released, a spring '22coiled about the rod causes it to rise, bringing the main shaft to restat, the desired point.

Before applying an upper to the machine, it is folded, with eyelets atopposite sides in registration. The eyelets are then applied to theneedles which are-mounted in a rowof inclined needle bars 24 (see Fig.5) with the ends of the needles projecting upwardly and at an angle ofabout 45 degrees to the horizontal. The uppers are first held loosely infolded relation-by the needles until the machine isstarted. In startingthe machine, a pair-of pivotally mounted clamp jaws 26. and 28 actagainst opposite sides of the upper t'o'secure the upper in properfolded which are passed relation (Fig. 6) and remain in this positionuntil the. lacing operationis completed.

cated in Figure 5. each needle is advanced upwardly to bring the theupper. The bight fportion' I eyelets.

A separate lacing cord is supplied to each needle and, when the machineis at rest ready to receive the folded upper upon the needles, eachlacing cord extends upwardly from the supply lengthwise of the needlethrough the eye of the needle, and then downwardly to a cord endgripper. When, therefore, the upper is placed in position on theneedles, a cord loop extends through each pair of aligned eyelets, asindi- Upon starting the machine,

loop on the needle into position to be engaged by a cooperating looperor loop taker and thereafter the needles are withdrawn and are given anumber of up-and-down reciprocations, the reciprocations taking placealternately across the edges of the upper and through the aligned Duringeach upward movement of a needle, the cooperating loop taker retains thepreceding loop in the path of the needle and then casts oif this loopand engages the loop on the needle and retains it during the downwardstroke of the needle. Each needle loop is thus passed through'thepreceding loop. The loop takers, of which there is one for each needle,are illustrated as secured each to its supporting block 30. Alsocooperating with the needles in forming the lacings is a take-up 32(Figs. 1 and 4) common to all the needles, a cutter knife 34 associatedwith each needle for severing at its bight portionj'the last formedneedle loop, and thecord endgripper, previously mentioned, associatedwith each needle, one of the members of which is indicated at 36, asshown more clearly in Figs. 36 and 38.

' The needle bars 24 (see Fig.5) are mounted to slide in'guidewaysengaging the bars, and formed in carrier 38. The central part of eachneedle bar is enlarged and perforated to fit a rod 49 running across therow of bars and being secured at either end to the upper ends of a pairof inclined links 42 pivotally connected at their lower ends, throughconnections more fully described in inventors prior application, to acrank portion of the main shaft IS. The needles are reciprocated onceby'these connections for each complete rotation of the main shaft "5.

To cause the needles alternately to enter the eyelets and to pass acrossthe edges of the upper with a jogging motion, the carriers 38in whichthe bars 24 reciprocate are loosely supported at their upper ends on ahorizontal rod 44 fixed at its left end to the upper arm of a lever 46,and at its right end to an arm 48, both of which are secured on a shaft50 rotatable in the machine frame. The lower arm of lever 46 at the left(see Figs. 5 and 6) is actuated by connections to a cam slot formed inone side of a spur gear 52 (Figs. land 4). The gear 52 rotates looselyon a cam shaft 54, once for every three revolutions of the main shaft l6and meshes with a smaller gear 56 fast to the main shaft.

The upper clamp jaw 26 is secured at the right end to a horizontal shaft58 (see Fig. 1) and is moved to a fixed position before the machine isstarted through connections actuated in part by the treadle rod 20, andin part by the driving and stopping mechanism. These connectionscomprise an arm 60 on the left end of the shaft 58, carrying a roll62'arranged to be engaged by segmental cam 64 rotatable loosely on ahorizontal shaft 66. The outer surface ofthe cam B l/is concentric withthe shaft 66 and is terminated at its upper portion by an abrupt radialdrop so that, 'whenthe'camis' rotated beyond a- 75 certain point, theclamp jaw 26 may be lowered immediately upon starting and raised whenthe operation is completed by the action of a tension spring 68connected between the arm 60 and the machine frame. A relatively shortupward movement of the cam brings the clamp jaw into clamping position,and any further movement of the cam does not change the position of theclamp jaw. To oscillate the clamp cam 64, it is connected by adownwardly extending link I0 with an arm I2 made fast to the left end ofa shaft I4 which passes loosely through the lower part of the machineframe. To the other end of the shaft I4 (Fig. 4) is secured an arm I6connected with a part of the driving and stopping mechanism of themachine. When the treadle rod is depressed, the connections thusdescribed cause the cam 64 to be raised and the clamp jaw 26 lowered toclamping position, in which position it is held during the operation ofthe machine. Immediately when starting the machine the lower clamp jaw28 is moved yieldingly against the upper held by the upper clamp jaw 26.

To support the individual eyelets of the upper so that the needles mayreenter with certainty, the machine is provided with a series ofclamping members is and 80, arranged to grip the upper in closeproximity to the eyelets operated upon. To insure that the upper may beheld flat, the upper clamp jaw 26 is provided with a laterallyprojecting rod 92 (see Figs. 4 and 6) extending across the upper besidethe row of eyelets. The. lower clamping members are of sufficient lengthto cooperate with the rod 02 in holding the upper in place throughoutthe row of eyelets, but the upper clamping members 18 are considerablyshorter than the lower clamping members so as not to interfere with therod 82. There is a pair of upper and lower clamping members I8 and 80for each eyelet operated upon, and the lower clamping members engage theshoe upper between adjacent eyelets and closer to one of the eyeletsthan the other so as to provide maximum support for that eyelet.

To provide the requisite amount of slack in the individual cord lacingsto permit the upper to be opened out for application to a last, themachine is provided with a series of cord measuring fingers 86 (seeFigs. 5 and 6) which correspond in number to the needles. Each cordmeasuring finger lever is arranged to extend in close proximity to theunder side of an upper in a position to be surrounded by a lacing as itis applied to the upper. llhe lower forward end of each measuring leveris bent at an angle to the edge of the upper to pass between thepositions of a needle as it enters the eyelets, and as it crosses theupper edges respectively. The angle between the end of the measuringlever and the edge of the upper is approximately 60 degrees so that,after the lacing operation is completed, the lacing surrounding themeasuring end of the lever will slide easily from engagement therewith.

To locate each measuring finger lever 84 in pro-per position, therearward ends of the levers are brought against a transverse rod 86bythe action of the cord in being the eyelets. The rod 86 is formed withone spherical end engaging a socket 88 in an arm 90 fixed to a shaft 92rotatable in the right side of the machine frame. The other end of therod 05 (see Fig. 5) is supported by an arm 94 similar to the arm 90. Thearm 94 is fixed to the inner end of a shaft 96 rotatable in the leftside of the drawn tightly through machine and operated by an adjustingarm. 98 (Fig. l). The free end of the arm 98 is arranged to be moved inany desired angular position so as to change the position of the rod 86by a lever I00 (see Figs. 1 and 4) pivoted within a slot in the armthrough which a fulcrum screw IOI passes and formed on its under surfacewith corrugations I02 cooperating with corrugations in an arcuate shapedplate I04 secured to the machine frame. The outer end of the shaft 92 atthe other side of the machine carries an arm I06 (see Fig. 4) providedwith similar adjusting means, including a locking lever I08 on the armand a corrugated plate H0 to hold the arm I06 in the desired angularposition. By means of the arms 98 and 06, the rod 86 against which therearward ends of the cord measuring fingers 84 are forced may be movednot only to increase or decrease the length of all the lacings equally,but also to increase or decrease progressively the length of each lacingfrom one end of the series of eyelets operated upon to the other.

The cord end grippers are actuable towards and from the needles 2 andalso towards and from an upper secured by the clamping members in adirection parallel to the reciprocating movement of the needles. Eachgripper comprises a threearmed lever 36 having a suitably shaped forwardgripping end, and a cooperating cord holding hook member I I2 providedwith an arcuate angular end (see Figs. 36 and 38) so that, in movingrearwardly across the path of the needle (Fig. 36), it may force thecord to one side and may draw the cord into the apex of the angular end(Fig. 38) during its return movement. When the cord is properlypositioned in the holding member, the member 36 may secure the cordeffectively by movement against it. The gripper members are supportedand slidable laterally along a horizontal carrier rod II4 (see Fig. 4)rotatably mounted at its ends in arms II6 secured to a transversehorizontal shaft II8 rotatable in the machine frame. To actuate the cordgrippers towards and from the upper clamping members, the shaft H8 isrocked by a cam secured to the cam shaft 54 which rotates once during alacing operation.

To actuate the grippers towards and from the needles, an arm I20 issecured on the right end of the rod H4 and is connected to a bell cranklever I22 by a link I24. The bell crank lever I22 is also provided witha cam actuated roll engaging a slot in a cam on the shaft 54. Rockingmovement of the rod II4 actuates a pair of arms I28 (see Fig. 5) securedat the ends of the rod H6 and also to a horizontal rod I30 mountedbetween the forward ends of the arms I28. The rod I30 passes looselythrough forwardlyextending arms of the hook members II2 so that when therod H4 is rocked, the hook members will also be rocked towards and fromthe needles. The gripper members 36 are caused to move with the hookmembers II? by springs I32 stretched between the forward arms of thehook members and downwardly extending arms of the members 36. During themovement of the hook members to wards the needles, rearwardly extendingarms of the members 36 engage a horizontal rod I34 to cause the hookmembers to separate from the members 36 in order that the cord may passinto the hook portions of the hook members. The rod I34 is mounted ateach end upon a link I36 releasably clamped by means of screws I38 tostuds on the side frames of the machine.

The loop takers 30 each comprise a main frame block integral with theforward end of an inclined sliding rod I40. When the machine is atrest,.the 1oop takers are in a retracted raised position to permit readyaccess to the needles in placing the folded upper in position in themachine. Upon starting the machine, the loop takers are moved downwardlyand forwardly into a position to cooperate with the needles. To take theloops from the needles, retain the loops in the path of the needlesduring their next reciprocation, and then cast oif these loops andengage the loops on the needles, the loop takers are reciprocated backand forth at right angles to the path of movement of the needles. Themanner in which the needles loops are taken from the needles, retaineduntil the next reciprocation of the needles and thencast off will bedescribed hereinafter. The loop takers are moved into and out ofoperative position on starting and stopping the machine, and arereciprocated'while the machine is in operation to cooperate with theneedles in forming the lacings by mechanism which reciprocates the rodsI40 at the forward ends of which the loop takers are mounted. Theconnections for reciprocating the rods I40 comprise a rectangularhorizontal bar I42 (see Fig. 5) at the upper part of the machine towhich the ends of the rods I40 are connected. The ends of the bar I42are supported in flanged blocks I44 by means of threaded studs I46 (seeFig. 6) passing loosely throughthe blocks and into the ends of the barI42. The blocks I44 are mounted loosely with their flanges at the innersides of the forked upper ends ofa pair of arms I48 and I50 fixed to ashaft supported in the machine frame. The arm I 48 at the left side 'ofthe machine is connected to be actuated by a cam slot in the gear 52.The gear 52 rotates three times during each complete cycle of operationsof the machine, and the shape of the cam slot is such that the looptakers are maintained in the proper position with relation to theneedles, as the needle carriers move back and forth transversely to thereciprocation of the needles, and the required reciprocating movementsare imparted to the loop takers to cause them'to cooperate with theneedles in forming the lacings.

To enable the loop takers to take the loops from theneedles, retain theloops in the path of the needles during their next reciprocation andthen cast 01f these loops and engage the newly presentedloops on theneedles, each loop taker is provided with two sets of points, one set ofpoints being arranged to engage and spread a needle loop during thereciprocation of the loop taker in one direction and the other set ofpoints being arranged to engage and spread a needle loop when the looptaker is reciprocated in the opposite direction. The points of one setare indicated at I 5I and I52, and the points of the other set at I54and I56 (see Figs. '7 to 16-). The points are so arranged that when theneedle associatedwith the loop taker rises to its highest position, theupper end of the needle will lie between and a little to one side of thepath of reciprocation of the points; The loop on the needle is enteredfirst by one ofthe fingers I52, I56 -and in order to permitthe-points toenter the loop, the needle is cut away at one side for a short distancebelow the eye, as clearly shown in Fig. 10. In addi-" tion to taking theloops from the needles, the points I52and I 56' 'arealso utilized incooperation with'the points I 5I- and I54 to spread the" loop and holdit in the-path of the needle during its next reciprocation. Forconvenience-of-de'scription, therefo'rd'the points I 5-2, I56 willhereinafter" be referred to as loop spreader points, and the points,I'5I, I54 will be referred to as loop holder points. The loop holderpoints I 5| and I54 are formed on arms extending downwardly from themain frame block of the loop taker and project towards each other inposition to enter the needle loop as one side of the loop is forcedoutwardly away from the needle by the action of a loop spreader poi-ht.The loop spreader points I52, I56 extend slightly above and beyond thepoints I5I, I54, and in order that they may cooperate with the pointsI51, I54 in spreading the needle loops, they are formed on a frame orcarrier I58 secured to a rock shaft I60 which extends in parallelrelation to the rod I 40 and is mounted to rotate in the loop takerblock 30 and to rotate and slide longitudinally in a frame plate I62.The rockshaft I60 is acted upon by a spring I64 coiled around the shaftwith one end engaging a slot in the end of the shaft, and with the otherend' engaging a pin on the loop taker'block, the arrangement of thespring being such that it tends to turn the shaft in a counter-clockwisedirection, as viewed in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, and hold the loopspreaderfingers in substantially alined position indicated in Fig. 10. The rockshaft IE is rotated in a clockwise direction to move the loop spreadingfingers into the position indicated in Fig. 11 to spread the loop bymechanism" hereinafter described.

In order to insure that the loop spreader points will properly engagethe needle loops during the reciprocations of the loop taker blocks,each loop taker is provided with a point locating device whichcooperates with the needle to determine accurately the position of theloop spreader points as they enter the needle loop. This point locatingdevice consists'of a guide plate I66 loosely mounted at its u'pperend onthe shaft I65 within a slot attlie upper portion of the block carryingthe spreader points and at its lower end provided with asurface arrangedto engage the needle when in its highest position. At its upper endtheguide plate is formed with a bevelled face I68" (see Fig. 12) whichis engaged by the end of-as'et screw I'Iflthreaded through an upstandinglug onthe block carrying the spreader points; During the movement of therock shaft IBD in a counter-clockwise direction, under the fo'rceof thespring I64, the guide plate is moved yieldinglywith the loop spreaderpoint carrier I 3 by theQeng-agement of the set screw I with thebevelface I68. The movement of the plate isstop'ped-by the engagement ofthe plate with the needle, as indicated in Figure 10, and while theplate is in engagement with the needle, it acts by reason of theengagement of the bevel face I68 with-the set screw I10 to preventfurther counter-clockwise movement of the carrier for the loop'spreaderpoints and locates the points in proper-position with relation to theneedle so that'during'the reciprocation of the loop taker block thepoints will enter with certainty into the needle-looplf- Onthe returnmovement of the rockshaft I 60- in a clockwise direction, which movementtakes place after the needle has been retracted,-the loop spreaderpoints are moved to the position-indicated in Fig. 11 to spread theloop, andduring this movement, the carrier I58 for the points engagesthe plate I66 and moves it a-way fronrthe path of the needle a shortdistance.

The loopta-l'cer points'I5I" and I52 engage a loop o'nthe needle duringtherearward reciprocating movement of the loop taker and the loop takerpoints I54 and I56 engage a needle loop during the forward reciprocatingmovement of the loop taker. During the forward reciprocation from theposition illustrated in Fig. 13, the loop is entered first by the pointI52 and then by the point I5I. During the continued rearward movement ofthe loop taker, the loop is carried rearwardly, and after the needle iswithdrawn, the loopis spread by the transverse movement of the pointsI52 so that the loop extends over the holding point I5I and the spreaderpoint I56 is in position to be entered by the needle during its nextupward stroke. During the return forward movement of the loop taker, theloopon the fingers I52, I5I is engaged by the needle and cast off of thepoints, as indicated in Figure I5, and the new loop presented by theneedle is engaged and spread by the points I54, I56 as indicated inFigure 16.

To actuate the loop spreader points away from the looper points inspreading each loop, a T- shaped arm I'M is mounted on the central partof each looper shaft I60 (see Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 6), the arms I'Mextending upwardly and to the left. Above the arms I14 there is "a rodI16 mounted at its right end in a downwardly extending arm of a leverI18 secured to a shaft I80 having bearings in upstanding lugs of themachine frame, and arranged parallel to a brace bar I82, connecting thesides of the machine frame. On the left end of the shaft I80 is mountedan arm I84 for supporting the rod I'I6. When the rod H6 is moved againstthe T-shaped arm I14, the loop spreaders are moved towards the right topositions indicated in Figs. 9 and 11. When the rod I76 is raised, thesprings I64 cause a return movement of the loop spreaders to positionsindicated in Fig. 10. The shaft I80 is rocked at suitable times by alink I86 pivotally connected with an upwardly extending arm of a leveractuated by a cam secured to the main shaft I6 which rotates sixrevolutions for each complete operation of the machine.

The take-up 32 comprises a pair of arms fastened to a shaft I88 byscrews I90 and provided between their upper ends with a pair of parallelrods I62. The cords are carried between the rods to preventdisplacement. The central part of the right arm of the take-up isconnected by a link I98 with a downwardly extending arm of a lever I96rotatable on a shaft I98 (see Fig. 1), the upwardly extending arm ofwhich lever is actuated by a cam carried by the shaft 54. The

' action of the take-up 32 is such as to facilitate movement of thecords through the eyes of the needles and to cause the previously formedloops of cords to be drawn tightly against the loops by the action ofthe loop takers.

To complete the'lacing, after the final needle loops are transferred tothe loop takers, the bight portion of each final loop is severed betweenthe loop taker and the eyelets by the cutter knives 34 (see Figs. 39 andTo actuate the cutters, which are in the form of rectangular barsslidably mounted in the frame of the machine, the upper end of eachcutter bar is bent at right angles and fitted loosely within adiametrical slot formed in a horizontal rod 206 (see Figs. 5 and 6). Therod 200 is supported at its right end in an upwardly extending arm of alever 262 having an elongated hub fulcrumed loosely on a horizontalshaft 204 (see Fig. l). The left end of the rod 200 is secured to theupper end of another upwardly extending arm 206 whose hub portion isintegrally connected with the hub of the lever 202. The lever 202carries on a downwardly extending arm a cam roll engaging a cam slotformed in a cam secured to the cam shaft 54, as more fully described inthe application above referred to.

When the machine is stopped, the positions of certain of the operatingdevices are changed to facilitate release of the laced upper and toposition a new upper in place. Thus, the loop takers which, duringoperation of the machine, are directly above the ends of the needles,are raised by sliding the supporting rods I40 upwardly and towards therear of the machine, the clamp jaw 28 and the individual clampingmembers 80 are moved downwardly from the upper to a position shown inFig. 5, the upper clamp jaw 26 and the transverse rod 82 secured thereonare raised out of the way and the needle carriers 38 are moveddownwardly and outwardly in order to expose the needles.

The loop takers are raised from operating positions by their actuatingcam on the shaft 54, which makes a single complete revolution duringoperation of the machine, and the gripper jaw 28 and the individualclamping members 80 are lowered from clamping positions by theirconnections with their respective cams on the shaft 54. At about thesame time, and just before the machine comes to rest, the upper jaw 26and the cross bar 82 are raised by the connections to the driving andstopping mechanism.

When the machine is at rest, the parts are in the position shown inFigures 1 and 4, with the clamp jaw 26 raised, the needles in theirouter position and the loop takers in their rearward position tofacilitate applying the eyelets of the upper to the individual needles.After the upper is applied to the machine, the treadle is depressed,causing the clamp jaw 26 with the rod 82 to be lowered to the positionindicated in Figure 5. As the machine is started into operation, theneedles are brought to their operative position, as indicated in Figures5 and 17, the lower clamp jaw 28 and the individual clamping members 80are raised to clamp the upper against the under side of the upper clampjaw 26 and bar 82, the loop takers are moved downwardly and forwardly inposition to cooperate with the needles (Fig. 17) and the needles areprojected upwardly into alignment with the loop taker points (Fig. 18)The relations of the upper to the clamping jaws and clamping members atthis point are more clearly illustrated in Figure 6.

As the needles enter the loop takers, as shown in Fig. 18, the looptakers are moved rearwardly, causing the loops of cord to be engaged andheld. During the retracting movement of the needles, the first part ofwhich is illustrated in Figure 19, the grippers 36 are moved towards theclamped upper into the position shown in Figure 20 to bring the clampedends of the cord close to the eyelets. The needle carriers and the looptakers are raised rearwardly and the needles pass across the edges ofthe upper during the succeeding reciprocation, the first part of whichis illustrated in Figure 21. As the needles approach the loop takers,they enter the spread loops first held by the looper and spreader pointsand the loop takers are then moved forwardly (Figure 22). In movingforwardly, the first loops are cast off from the loop takers by contactwith the needles, the cord having been passed around the angularlydisposed ends of the measuring fingers 84 to provide suitable separationin the completely laced upper and drawn tightly against the top surfaceof the upper by continued movements of the loopers. After the first loopis cast 01f the loop takers, the second loops are engaged and heldthereby and the needles retracted as shown in Figure 23. Figure 24illustrates the parts in their positions as the needles begin theirthird reciprocation. Just before the needles enter the eyelets in thethird reciprocation, the cords are brought again around the cordmeasuring fingers 84, as indicated in Figure 25. To release the secondloop from the loop takers (see Fig. 26), the loop taker is moved a shortdistance rearwardly. The loop takers then move still further rearwardly,as in Figure 27,. to engage and hold the third loops of cord, the secondloops being drawn tight by this movement. As the needles reachapproximately their lowest positions after their third reciprocation,the cord end grippers are actuated to release the ends of cord, as inFigure 28. Thereafter, the needles complete their fourth reciprocationacross the edges of the upper, indicated in the step-by-step positionsof Figures 29, 30 and 31. When the needles reach the lower limits oftheir fourth reciprocating movement, as in Figure 32, the hook members II2 of the grippers are raised past the lengths of cord extending betweenthe uppers and the needle eyelets, the gripper members 36 being held atthe front of the cords by the rod I34. During the fifth upward movementof the needles, the hook members are held stationary (Fig. 33) and theneedles pass through the fourth loops (Fig. 34). After the needles arewithdrawn from the eyelets (Figs. 35 and 36) and move below the level ofthe grippers (Figs. 37 and 38), the hook members H2 are again lowered toa gripping position, drawing the cords with them.

At this point in the operation of the machine, the cutter knives 34 areprojected forwardly and downwardly against the sides of the loops heldby the loop takers between the loop takers and the eyelets, as shown inFigs. 39 and 40. As soon as the cords are cut, the lower clampingmembers 80 are moved downwardly to release the upper and the upper dropsfrom the machine. As the clamping members 80 move downwardly, as in Fig.5, and after the upper has dropped from the machine, they engage theunderlying portions of the thread measuring fingers and force thesedownwardly in case the fingers have not dropped of their own Weight.

After the lacing cords are severed, as illustrated in Figure 39, a longlength of lacing cord is left projecting from the eye of each needle. Todraw this length of cord backwardly through the eye of the needle andleave only a short cord end projecting beyond the jaws of the threadgripper, a sixth and final upward stroke is imparted to the needles.During this final upward stroke of the needles, the hook members H2 ofthe grippers are raised slightly to release the lacing cords and theupward movement of the needles causes the cord ends projecting throughthe eyes of the needles and the grippers to be withdrawn through theneedle eyes and through the grippers until the ends are close to thegrippers, asindicated in Figure 41. The cam on the shaft 54 from whichthe loop takers are reciprocated is so formed that the loop: takers arenot actuated to engage the needle loops during the final reciprocationof the needles so that, when the needles are retracted, the loops remainon the needles. During the final down ward movement of the needles, thecord ends are held by the grippers and the cords are withdrawn by thetake-up through the eyes of the needles which return to the positionindicated in Figure 42.

As the machine stops, the needle carriers are moved downwardly andforwardly to bring them into their rest position, as indicated in Figure43, the loop takers are moved upwardly and rearwardly to theirinoperative position, and the upper clamping jaw 26 is raised to itshighest position, leaving all parts of the machine ready to receive anew upper.

The nature and scope of the invention having been indicated, what isclaimed is:

1. A method of lacing shoe uppers which comprises passing a loop oflacing cord through a pair of aligned eyelet holes of a folded shoeupper, thereafter passing loops of the same cord alternately across theedges and through said pair of aligned eyelet holes of the shoe upper,passing each loop through the preceding loop to lock the loops, pullingon the cord to tighten the loops, and measuring the length of cordbetween the tightened loops to provide a predetermined amount of slackin the lacing which thus takes the form of a self-sustaining ringarranged to permit the eyeleted edges of the upper to be relativelymoved thereon into open position for application to a last with theportions adjacent the lacing slit lying fiat against the last.

2. A method of lacing shoe uppers which comprises passing a loop oflacing cord through a pair of aligned eyelet holes of a folded shoeupper, thereafter passing loops of the same cord alternately across theedges and through said pair of aligned eyelet holes of the shoe upper,and passing each loop through the preceding loop to lock the loops, andtaking up on the cord after the passing of each loop through thepreceding loop to tighten the loops while leaving sufficient slack inthe lacing which takes the form of a self-sustaining ring arranged topermit opening out of the upper on the lacing thus formed forapplication to a last with the portions ad- J'acent the lacing slitlying flat against the last.

3. A method of lacing shoe uppers which comprises passing a loop oflacing cord through a pair of aligned eyelet hoies of a folded shoeupper, thereafter passing loops of the same cord alternately across theedges and through said pair of aligned eyelet holes, passing each loopthrough the preceding loop to lock the loops, and exerting a pull oneach loop passed through a preceding loop to tighten said preceding loopto form a self-sustaining lacing ring on which the eyeleted edges of theuppers can be relatively moved to open position.

JOSEPH FOSSA.

